" CARDIFF CITY'S - MOST GIFTED PLAYER EVER "

Cardiff City's most gifted: The 28 most naturally talented players to have worn the Bluebirds shirt.

Tuesday 13th Jan 2015

As one of Cardiff City's great talents, Peter Whittingham , celebrates eight years as a Bluebird, football correspondent Steve Tucker counts down the most naturally gifted players Bluebirds fans have ever seen.

It was eight years ago this week a young chap called Peter Whittingham signed for Cardiff City and the rest...well, as they say, the rest is history.

He has now made 366 appearances for the Bluebirds, scoring 84 goals in the process.

And despite some ups and downs, ‘Whitts’ remains one of the most talented players ever to pull on the famous blue shirt.

So in homage to Whittingham, we started thinking about the other talented men who have turned out for Cardiff down the years. You know the type, the men who perhaps didn’t have to try so hard, those players simply blessed with natural gifts, those who can have supporters out of their seats with just one moment of insouciant magic.

Some of them may not have made the biggest impact at the club, others may not have made that many appearances.

All of them, though, made an impression in some way and their names are still whispered about in awe whenever a group of supporters gather.

we rank the 28 most naturally gifted Cardiff City players ever. So, who was number one?

28. Gerry Francis

He was passed his QPR and England international glory days when he arrived in the Welsh capital and the stay was short, but Francis was a midfield general in the purest sense and you don’t achieve that with talent to spare.

27. Robert Earnshaw

OK, ‘Earnie’ was not the kind of all round talent these lists usually attract. But when it came into that important part of the game, putting the ball in the net, the Bluebirds have had few as talented.

26. Riccy Scimeca

His time at Cardiff was disrupted by injury, but in some few fleeting moments the midfielder showed how intrinsically talented he was. His greatest strength? The ability to turn defence into attack at rapid speed via one move or pass.

25. Brian Clark

‘Clarke’ had it all really, good feet, direct on the deck and a bit of a belligerent streak on the pitch running through him too. Add the aerial prowess and it is not hard to see why he became such a fans’ favourite at Cardiff.

24. Dave Bennett

The more talented of the Bennett brothers Dave had it all really, but it was his nose for getting forward and causing the opposition problems that was his greatest gift.

23. Andy Legg

He is so beloved by supporters that sometimes one forgets just how packed with talent ‘Leggy’ was. Industrious and smart, the guy was not just about long throws you know.

22. Ravel Morrison

Another loan player who did not have the impact desired. Morrison had a brilliant debut for Cardiff, but never followed it up. Again football acumen seems to come with off-field baggage. Once described by Sir Alex Ferguson as the most talented player ever to grace Old Trafford.

21. Wilfried Zaha

He may have frustrated many during his loan spell in the Bluebirds Premier League season, but the raw talent and promise Zaha possesses is undeniable even if Cardiff never really benefited from it.

20. Gary O’Neil

He only started eight games and scored one goal for the Bluebirds back in 2004, but fans still talk about him. The talent was obvious just from the way the midfielder ran onto the pitch. Pure class.

19. Ian Gibson

The talk on the terraces at the time may have been of ‘Tosh’ and Clarkie,’ but where did the ammunition come from for them to pull the trigger? The mesmeric ‘Gibbo’ of course.

18. Mats Daehli

Never realised his full potential at Cardiff, but the young Norwegian has raw talent to spare. He maybe small, but he was incredibly difficult to knock off the ball and would always use it wisely.

17. Stephen McPhail

The Irishman was as silky as a pint of Guinness. A brilliant reader of the game he was one of those players who looked like he had ages on the ball when in reality he didn’t.

16. Leon Jeanne

Another cautionary tale of the perils of pure footballing talent. Jeanne was the best young player many who knew the game had ever seen, but, sadly, he succumbed to off-field temptation and never fulfilled his potential.

15. John Toshack

Another lad of 16 called into the Cardiff first team. Toshack had a few rough edges to his game, but there was no denying the natural gifts particularly when it came to putting the ball in the net.

14. Peter Sayer

Those who saw him burst onto the scene at Ninian Park in the late 1970s can count themselves blessed. A glorious sight with the ball at his feet, he could finish too as Pat Jennings will confirm.

13. Craig Noone

At his best the wideman is virtually unplayable at times. Just ask the Manchester City defence last season. Fleet of foot and a great dribbler, Noone has talent by the bucket-load.

12. Hughie Ferguson

Scored the winner in the 1927 Cup Final, but there was a lot more to the Scot’s game than goals. Tricky and unpredictable again his off-pitch life ended in tragedy as he committed suicide in 1930 suffering depression.

11. Peter King

A one club man and those who saw King gliding down the right wing will most likely never forget the sight. When it came to European success for the Bluebirds King was at the forefront.

10. Jay Bothroyd

The guy divided opinion at times, but what no one could doubt was that beneath that laid back exterior was pure footballing class. Bothroyd made it look easy at times, it isn’t.

9. Graham Kavanagh

A great temperament and a great leader, but Kavanagh was a thrilling player to watch too. Renowned for delivering for some of the finest set-pieces the club has ever known.

8. Nathan Blake

He was a mere boy when Eddie May brought him into the Cardiff side and basically built the team around him. ‘Blakey’ could play anywhere and often did, but going forward he could be devastating.

7. Alan Curtis

He only had to do that trademark shimmy of the hips and the crowd was eating out of his hand whilst the opposition trailed in his wake. Vision and precision are the mark of Curtis’ ingrained and great talents.

6. Robin Friday

They say there is a thin line between genius and madness and Friday straddled it. On the pitch at his best he was a wizard able to destroy and wind up even the toughest defenders. Off it? Tragedy and farce.

5. Peter Whittingham

That is the greatest left foot Cardiff fans have ever witnessed surely? He’s had mixed fortunes during his time at the club, but when he’s gone all that will remain is the joy of watching him play.

4. Craig Bellamy

A hometown boy and when it came to raw talent and power ‘Bellers’ had it all. A precocious figure who seemed to fuel his footballing flair via his fiery temperament.

3. John Charles

The Bluebirds may not have had him at his best, but the ‘Gentle Giant’ remains the greatest Welsh player of all time. Whether up front or at the back he was the best among the very best. A legend indeed.

2. Jason Koumas

One loan spell too far maybe, but when he first arrived at Cardiff, Koumas was incredible. Untouchable in touch, perfect of poise. The ‘Special K’ was capable of falling over, getting up and still scoring. A magician.

1. Aaron Ramsey

You don’t become the youngest ever Bluebirds player without tons of natural talent. ‘Rambo’ impressed all who saw him from a young age and has developed into one of the finest midfielders in Europe

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/foot ... 28-8437454

John Charles in his time was arguably the best player in the world - he could play from center back to striker and broke transfer records at the time. Definatly should have been number 1 on that list.

Dirk Kuyt. Shame his kids got kicked out of Howells and he had to leave.

Jason Koumas brilliant talent,also whitts been fantastic for us over the years.Mark Delaney great player aswell.

i think it is GREG FARRELL SKILLWISE HE WAS THE MOST GIFTED PLAYER EVER!!!!!!!!1

Lethal Lynex anyone?

I would put leon jeanne in the top 5

I compare him to an Aaron lennon type player but slightly more dynamic
able to score more goals.
I really think he had the potential to make the national team even england
if he was english.
None of us ever got to see what he could do with a clean lifestyle
abd dedicated work ethic

Willy anderson pure class and skill

Jason Fowler ain't in there shocking.

Love to see Scimeca mentioned, never replaced him.

No Eddie Newton ?

Alan Curtis was superb on his day

Carl dale, stant.
Leo fortune west lol.

WHAT? - not on list

Tony Evans, Adrian Alston (70's lethal strike partnership)

John Buchannan

Jeff Hemmerman

Ron Healy (one of our best ever keepers)

Phil Dwyer (Mr CCFC)

Michael Chopra

Although only 28 on the list - a few on the official list a bit dodgy in my opinion

Blooobirds Forever !!!

Jason Fowler ain't in there shocking.

that era totally blanked out, when in fact he was the one scoring absolutely great goals and lovely skills.

Mark Delaney ,innamotto

Unbelievable that Allchurch is missing. For me he just shades Ian Gibson but these 2 are miles ahead of the field. John Charles was a great player, but not when he was with us unfortunately. Ron Healey, Tony Evans and Willie Anderson are better than loads on that list too. I saw Greg Farrell's Middlesborough match and agree that it was the best individual performance I have seen. But Greg didn't reach such giddy heights too often.

For me (so since '93) and relevent to the league we were in, it was Koumas. Others went on to be better at other cubs but for me it was him in a city shirt during that 2005/06 season. Class act.

jimmy floydd not in there.........

Dirk Kuyt. Shame his kids got kicked out of Howells and he had to leave.

did he actually come to us...???

Noone at 13? I thought it was an April fools! How John Charles isn't at 1 is rediculous.

I would take Jason fowler, Bowen and kav above noone straight away, kav was hard working but had a wand in his boots around free kicks!

Chopra, Eddie Newton, Curtis sadly that's alan not Carl.

If ravel Morrison makes it with so few games is make a case for Wayne routledge.

Jason Fowler ain't in there shocking.

that era totally blanked out, when in fact he was the one scoring absolutely great goals and lovely skills.

Hear hear pal